In 1602, Geneva was coveted by the Savoyards. Chales-Emmanuel I intended to make Geneva his capital north of the Alps. On the night of 11-12th December 1602, a troop of 2000 soldiers launched a surprise attack. Arriving in Painpalais, the mercenaries climbed the walls surrounding the city. Armed with nothing more than courage and halberds, the citizens of Geneva, men and women alike, ran out of their houses to defend the city. They fought off the enemies using any means to hand. A number of stories recall the courage of La Mère Royaume, who scalded one Savoyard with her pot of soup. Since 1881, chocolate cauldrons decorated with the coat of arms of Geneva have been sold and eaten at this time every year in honour of the bravery.
Following the tradition, Zia and Eva, the youngest and oldest girls in our house, smashed a chocolate ‘Marmite’ and we all enjoyed eating the chocolate afterwards!